Ship{40 s loading ramp

ABSTRACT

A loading ramp pivotally connected to a ship comprises two unitary side beams and a travelling track carried thereby. This travelling track is composed of two parts of which an inner one extends outwards from the ship along part of the length of the beams to which it is permanently fixed. An outer part of the travelling track is hingedly connected to the inner part and is longer than the difference between the inner part and the length of the beams. The outer part is further provided with laterally extending portions upon which the ends of the beams will rest when the ramp is folded down.

Unite States atent Apelstrand et al.

[ SHIP'S LOADING RAMP [72] Inventors: Lennart Apelstrand, Kapplandsgatan 76, Goteborg; Per Fagerlund, Organistvagen 6, Torslanda; Stig Jarl, Badvadersgatan 23, Goteborg, all of Sweden [22] Filed: Oct. 7, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 78,860

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 11, 1969 Sweden ..l5428/69 [52] US. Cl ..2l4/15 R, 14/71, 214/85 [51] Int. Cl ..B65g 67/58 [58] Field of Search ..2l4/12,13,l4,15 R, 38.22, 214/85; 14/71, 70

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,380,422 4/1968 Bachro ..214/15 R X Aug. 29, 2972 DEath ..214/85 X Santee ..2l4/85 Primary ExaminerGera1d M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Frank E. Werner Att0rneyl-lolma.n & Stern [57] ABSTRACT A loading ramp pivotally connected to a ship comprises two unitary side beams and a travelling track carried thereby. This travelling track is composed of two parts of which an inner one extends outwards from the ship along part of the length of the beams to which it is permanently fixed. An outer part of the travelling track is hingedly connected to the inner part and is longer than the difference between the inner part and the length of the beams. The outer part is further provided with laterally extending portions upon which the ends of the beams will rest when the ramp is folded down.

5Claims,4DrawingFigures SHIP'S LOADING RAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many ships are nowadays loaded and unloaded by means of trucks, which are driven directly into the ship. In order to make such traffic possible a folding bridge, usually called a ramp, is often used between the ship and the quay.

This ramp may be arranged in connection with an opening in the ships side, but the best availability of the cargo spaces is obtained if the ramp is arranged in the aft body or stem portion of the ship. This will, however, presuppose a possibility to berth the ship along a quay provided with a step in such a manner that the trucks may be driven straight into the ship.

One difficulty encountered during all loading and unloading by means of trucks is that the position in the vertical direction between the ship and the quay will continuously vary as the work proceeds, and on many places the tide water will have a deciding influence upon the position of the ship in relation to the quay.

A ramp is usually hingedly connected to the ship in such a manner that the inner end of the ramp is level with a deck, and during a voyage the ramp is swung to a vertical position. It will often be necessary to use a fairly long ramp, and in raised position this may reach above the superstructure of the ship, which is undesirable with respect to the stability, and furthermore means that the ramp structure will act as a large windcatcher.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A loading ramp according to the invention is pivotably connected to the ship and includes two unitary side beams and a travelling track carried thereby. This travelling track consists of an inner part extending from the ships side outwards along pan of the length of the beams and being fixedly connected thereto, as well as of an outer part, which is hingedly connected to the inner part but is free from the beams in such a manner that the outer part, when the ramp is swung to vertical position, may be folded down alongside the inner part, said outer part being longer than the difference between the inner part and the length of the beams and having laterally extending portions upon which the ends of the beams will rest in folded down position.

In raised position the outer ends of the beams only will extend above the superstructure and offer a small surface to catch the wind, whereas in lowered position the load will be distributed over a large area.

According to a further development of the invention the ramp is arranged obliquely in relation to the longitudinal axis of the ship and is then designed in such a manner that it will be possible to drive into the ship from a quay side being parallel to the ship, along a bent travelling track having a big radius.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS I FIG. 1 shows a portion of a ship along a quay and provided with a loading ramp arranged obliquely in relation to the longitudinal axis of the ship.

FIG. 2 shows the ramp during a lowering operation, and

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the ramp in folded down position and with the ship in different vertical positions in relation to the quay.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT a substantially vertical position. The ramp has such a length and shape, that it from the aft body or stem portion of the ship will reach across the edge of the quay and makes possible a passage for trucks from the quay directly into the ship.

The ramp consists of two unitary side beams 13 and 14, respectively, as well as a travelling track inconnecting said beams. The track contains an inner part 15, which is fixedly connected to the beams and extends outwards from the ship to about 1 of the length of the beams.

To the outward end of the inner track part an outer track part 16 is connected by means of hinges 17 in such a manner that this outer part may be swung downwards along the inner part when the ramp is raised to vertical position. The end portion of the outer part consists of a flap 18, which is hingedly connected to the travelling track proper. The hinges 19 between the flap and the outer track part are arranged adjacent to the transverse axis through the point of gravity, whereby the flap, within practical limits, will automatically maintain a horizontal position independent of the inclination of the outer track part 16 in relation to the quay. To facilitate the driving up on the ramp the flap is broader than the distance between the beams at the free ends thereof.

The length of the beams is thus less than the combined length of the two track parts and the beams will rest on the outer track part at about the mid portion of said part. In this manner the high load from the beams will be transferred to the flap 18 by way of the outer track part 16, whereby the pressure at the ends of the beams will be distributed over a comparatively large area. This is important as on most occasions the quay is not designed to take care of concentrated loads of a magnitude likely to appear at the ends of the beams. The outer track part is to this end provided with laterally extending brackets 20, which possibly may be designed in such a manner that they may be retracted into the track structure, when the ramp is being raised.

To make possible an adjustment of the ends of the beam in relation to the outer part of the ramp each beam is provided with a sliding member 21 the position of which in relation to the beam is adjustable by means of a pressure fluid operated ram 22. The sliding members will rest against the above mentioned brackets 20 extending from the outer track part.

The position in the vertical direction of the ship in relation to the quay will vary depending on the different height of the quays in different harbors and due to the changed draft of the ship during loading and unloading, as well as due to possible influence of tide water. FIGS. 3 and 4 show two different positions where the attachment of the ramp to the ship is located higher than, and lower than the quay, respectively. On

both occasions the travelling track will operate in a satisfactory manner. The beams are designed with due respect to the loads to be encountered, and the shape of the beams illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 has been found suitable for an actual structure. As shown in FIG. 1 the beam 14 adjacent to the ship is bent outwards. In this manner it will be easier for trucks to turn towards the longitudinal direction of the ship. Furthermore the broader flap 18 may, when the ramp is swung to vertical position, be brought in between the beams, which diminishes the space required for stowage. In swung up position only the ends of the beam will extend above the hinge joint 17 between the track parts whereby the windcatching area will be reduced.

The ramp is operated by means of two winches 23 and 24 of which the former is mounted in the ships superstructure, and the other, 24, is mounted on one of the beams. In a practical embodiment there are two winches 23 working in parallel, as well as two winches 24 similarly arranged.

FIG. 2 shows with full lines the ramp during a lowering operation. Dash-dotted lines show the ramp in stowed position, in which it may be locked by means of suitable devices not shown.

The ramp is folded outwards by means of the wire 25 attached to winch 23 to the position shown in FIG. 2. During this operation the outer track part 16 and flap 18 will hang downwards substantionally in a vertical position. From the position in FIG. 2 the outer part of the track is swung upwards by means of the winch 24, in such a manner that it will form an extension of the fixed inner part of the track. The wire 26 from the winch 24 is led over a first pulley 27 at the end of the beam, and from that to a second pulley 28 back to the beam where it is attached. When the ramp rests on the quay the position of flap 18 will automatically adjust itself to the plane thereof. An adjustment of the ends of the beams in relation to the brackets by means of the sliding members 21 is made during the upward folding of the outer track part.

The winch 23 is preferably of the same type as mooring winches of known design, and may be adjusted to maintain a constant strain in the wire 25, whereby this is paid out or wound home if the load is changed from a certain value. On the present occasion this load shall correspond to the weight of the ramp.

It is evident that the ramp may be dimensioned in such a manner that it with ferry-boats will permit road trucks and other vehicles to drive into the ship, and the position of the ramp in relation to the longitudinal axis of the ship may of course be other than the one shown on the drawing.

What we claim is:

1. A loading ramp pivotably connected to a ship and comprising two unitary side beams extending to a quay or other support and a travelling track carried thereby, in which the travelling track is composed of an inner part extending from the ship outwards along part of the length of the beams and is fixedly connected thereto, and an outer part hingedly connected to the inner part but free from the beams in such a manner that the outer part, when the ramp is swung to a vertical position, may.

be folded down alongside the inner part, said outer part being longer than the difference between the inner part and the len of thief beams and said outer part bein provided W1 later ly extending portions upon who the ends of the beams will rest in the folded down position of the ramp.

2. The loading ramp according to claim 1, in which an end portion of the outer track part is formed as a hinged flap, which independently of the inclination of the beams in relation to a quay or other fixed support will occupy a position corresponding to the plane of the latter.

3. The loading ramp according to claim 1, in which the free ends of the beams are provided with adjustable sliding members designed for cooperation with the laterally extending portions of the outer track part.

4. The loading ramp according to claim 1, designed to be attached to a stern position of the ship with its pivot axis at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the ship, in which an end portion of the outer track part forming an elongation of the beams is broader than the distance between the beams at the ends thereof remote from the ship, and at least one of the beams, adjacent to the ship, being bent sidewards sufficient to permit the broadened portion of the outer track part to be brought in between the beams, when the ramp is raised to vertical position.

5. The loading ramp according to claim 1, in which at least two winches are used for operating the ramp, one of said winches being designed to raise and to lower the beam structure, and one winch to govern the outer track part, the first mentioned winch being further designed in a manner common with mooring winches to maintain a constant strain in the pertaining wire, which is sufficient to carry the weight of the ramp. 

1. A loading ramp pivotably connected to a ship and comprising two unitary side beams extending to a quay or other support and a travelling track carried thereby, in which the travelling track is composed of an inner part extending from the ship outwards along part of the length of the beams and is fixedly connected thereto, and an outer part hingedly connected to the inner part but free from the beams in such a manner that the outer part, when the ramp is swung to a vertical position, may be folded down alongside the inner part, said outer part being longer than the difference between the inner part and the length of the beams and said outer part being provided with laterally extending portions upon which the ends of the beams will rest in the folded down position of the ramp.
 2. The loading ramp according to claim 1, in which an end portion of the outer track part is formed as a hinged flap, which independently of the inclination of the beams in relation to a quay or other fixed support will occupy a position corresponding to the plane of the latter.
 3. The loading ramp according to claim 1, in which the free ends of the beams are provided with adjustable sliding members designed for cooperation with the laterally extending portions of the outer track part.
 4. The loading ramp according to claim 1, designed to be attached to a stern position of the ship with its pivot axis at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the ship, in which an end portion of the outer track part forming an elongation of the beams is broader than the distance between the beams at the ends thereof remote from the ship, and at least one of the beams, adjacent to the ship, Being bent sidewards sufficient to permit the broadened portion of the outer track part to be brought in between the beams, when the ramp is raised to vertical position.
 5. The loading ramp according to claim 1, in which at least two winches are used for operating the ramp, one of said winches being designed to raise and to lower the beam structure, and one winch to govern the outer track part, the first mentioned winch being further designed in a manner common with mooring winches to maintain a constant strain in the pertaining wire, which is sufficient to carry the weight of the ramp. 